Barrington Plan Commission mourns longtime member

The Barrington man who killed his developmentally disabled daughter and himself Tuesday was a well-respected architect and a longtime member of the village plan commission.

Harry Burroughs, 69, was first appointed to the plan commission in December 1996.

"Harry was a wonderful guy, a talented architect, a valued member of the plan commission," Anna Markley Bush, plan commission chairwoman, said Thursday. "I will miss him."

Besides being on the plan commission for 19 years, Burroughs was on the appearance review commission. As an architect he had a hand in many projects around Barrington, including Safety Town.

Bush said she was shocked and saddened by the news that Burroughs took the life of his developmentally disabled daughter, 35-year-old Kathryn Burroughs, before taking his own.

Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Orlando Portillo said the office has ruled Harry Burroughs died by his own hand and that Kathryn's death was a homicide.

Portillo said Harry Burroughs left a note, now in the possession of the Barrington Police Department.

Police said they had no new information to release Thursday.

"(Harry) was just was a great guy and did a lot of good work for the village," Bush said.

There are now two vacancies on the Barrington Plan Commission, which will be filled by appointment.

If you or a loved one are in crisis, visit the nearest emergency room or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1(800) 273-7255 or visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.